Power plug clamping device

Abstract

A clamp for securing a power plug in a socket including a pair of identical clamping plates separate from each other that are drawn together to capture the socket therebetween and secure the power plug engaged in the socket, each of the clamping plates including a plate having spaced posts and a plug retaining member extending therefrom, the plug retaining member defining an arcuate portion arranged such that the arcuate portions of the plug retaining members oppose one another in use to radially compress the power plug therebetween.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A clamp for securing a plug of generally circular cross-section in an electrical socket, the clamp comprising a pair of clamping plates separate from each other, each clamping plate having a pair of spaced posts and a plug retaining member defining an arcuate portion, the spaced posts and the plug retaining member extending perpendicularly from a common face of the clamping plate, the posts spaced from the plug retaining member such that a housing of the electrical socket can be positioned therebetween and between planar faces of the clamping plates, each of the posts and the plug retaining member defining a through hole such that fasteners passing through the through holes are tightened to draw the clamping plates toward each other to radially compress the plug between the arcuate portions of the plug retaining members and capture the housing of the electrical socket between the clamping plates such that the spaced posts are positioned behind the housing, the plug retaining members are positioned forward of the housing, and the planar faces of the clamping plates are positioned adjacent opposing sides of the housing. 
     
     
       2. The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the posts are positioned at a first end of the plate and extend perpendicularly from the plate. 
     
     
       3. The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the plug retaining member is positioned at a second end of the plate, and wherein the arcuate portion of the plug retaining member is axially perpendicular to the through hole through the plug retaining member. 
     
     
       4. The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the arcuate portion of the plug retaining member is positioned between spaced through holes in the plug retaining member. 
     
     
       5. The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the arcuate portion of the plug retaining member comprises inwardly projecting ribs. 
     
     
       6. The clamp of  claim 5 , wherein the inwardly projecting ribs are laterally bisected by a recess formed in the plug retaining member. 
     
     
       7. The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the posts, the plug retaining member, and the plate are integrally formed. 
     
     
       8. The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of clamping plates are arranged to capture the electrical socket therebetween such that the electrical socket is exposed through an opening formed between the arcuate portions of the plug retaining members. 
     
     
       9. The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein a recess is defined along an edge of the plate between the posts. 
     
     
       10. The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the posts are positioned along one edge of the plate and the plug retaining member is positioned along an opposing edge of the plate and extends the length thereof. 
     
     
       11. The clamp of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable insert tethered to the plug retaining member for engaging within the arcuate portion to reduce the inner diameter thereof. 
     
     
       12. A clamp, made in two identical half sections, for being secured around an electrical box to retain a power plug in an electrical socket of the electrical box, the half sections each comprising a plate having spaced posts and a plug retaining member extending perpendicularly from a common face of the plate, the plug retaining member defining an arcuate portion, the posts spaced from the plug retaining member to position the electrical box therebetween, each of the posts and the plug retaining member defining a through hole such that fasteners passing through the through holes are tightened to draw the half sections toward each other to compress the plug between the arcuate portions of the plug retaining members and capture the electrical box between the clamping plates such that the spaced posts are positioned behind the electrical box, the plug retaining members are positioned forward of the electrical box, and planar faces of the plates are positioned adjacent opposing sides of the electrical box. 
     
     
       13. The clamp of  claim 12 , wherein the posts are positioned along a first edge of the plate, the plug retaining member is positioned along a second, opposing edge of the plate, and the arcuate portion of the plug retaining member is axially perpendicular to the through hole through the plug retaining member. 
     
     
       14. The clamp of  claim 12 , wherein the arcuate portion of the plug retaining member is positioned between spaced through holes in the plug retaining member. 
     
     
       15. The clamp of  claim 12 , wherein the arcuate portion of the plug retaining member comprises inwardly projecting ribs. 
     
     
       16. The clamp of  claim 12 , wherein the posts, the plug retaining member, and the plate of each half section are integrally formed. 
     
     
       17. The clamp of  claim 12 , wherein the half sections are arranged to capture the electrical box therebetween such that the socket is exposed through an opening formed between the arcuate portions of the plug retaining members.